Doris Mary (Arts) Vanzutphen

After 83 years in this world, devoted mother, Oma and sister, Theodora M. VanZutphen (Doris) died peacefully in Chula Vista, CA on December 20, 2020. Her journey that began on October 12, 1937 will continue in the afterlife with the many friends, family members and the love of her life, William (Bill), who preceded her in death on December 24, 2014.

She was the daughter of Antoon and Theodora Arts and was raised in Volkel, North Brabant, Holland. During her childhood she learned to be reliable and respectful. Doris found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of Doris’s personality throughout her life.

Doris was raised with seven siblings – brothers Jan Arts and Arnold Arts, and sisters Lucy Eykemans, Nelly DeGroot, Josephine Willems, Joanne Nooyen and Mary Roth Campbell. They all grew up during the hard times of World War II and lost their mother, Theodora at an early age. This caused the family to come together and learn to help each other.

The hard times of the war proved to be too much and when Doris was only 15, her father and entire family emigrated from Holland to London, Ontario Canada in November 1952. Doris and her sisters because Nurse’s aides at St. Joseph’s Hospital. This is where Doris met the love of her life, William ‘Bill’ VanZutphen when Bill was a patient. He was there for an industrial accident and Doris would sneak him up to the rooftop to smoke cigarettes. They married on May 5, 1960 in London, Ontario. After a few years, Bill and Doris continued their adventure in 1965 when they moved to Artesia, California with other Dutch friends and family.

While in California, Bill and Doris started their company, Roth Display with their brother-in-law, Richard manufacturing banners and Christmas decorations. The company became very successful and eventually transitioned into Holiday Foliage Inc. where all of her children now work together. Her greatest joy was knowing that her children were together carrying on the legacy that she and Bill worked so hard to grow.

As someone who reveled in the sheer joy of her experiences, Doris was always enthusiastic about new adventures. Her love of a good laugh and a funny practical joke kept her young at heart and always smiling. Harmony was important to Doris and she made every effort to maintain it within her family. Doris was blessed with four children – Juanita S. Keller, Paul A. VanZutphen, Kristine VanZutphen and W. Peter VanZutphen Jr. She was also blessed with four grandchildren, Lauren, Christopher, Emily and Billy and most recently one Great-Grandchild, Everett.

Doris was a hard worker who never sat idle. Her primary occupation was housewife and mother. A methodical woman, Doris enjoyed spending time working on her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were painting with watercolors, gardening, playing cards, visiting her condo in Cabo San Lucas, traveling (especially to Holland and Mexico), doing puzzles and watching her hummingbirds. She was a devote Catholic and was a member of St. Hedwig Catholic Church for over 40 years.

Doris passed away on December 20, 2020 at home in Chula Vista, CA. Doris fought a courageous battle against Parkinson’s for the last five years. While her disease would progress, she would always fight hard to overcome any obstacles her disease presented. In the end, she could no longer fight the effects of Parkinson’s and she passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all of her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her four children, Juanita, Paul, Kristine and Peter; her grandchildren Lauren, Christopher, Emily and Billy; her great-grandchild Everett as well as her sisters Lucy Eykemans, Joanne Nooyen and Mary Roth Campbell.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 7th at 10 AM at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Bonita, California followed by a gravesite service at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California. Doris’s family would be honored by your presence.

Doris was without a doubt the type of person who enjoyed experiencing things first hand and having a good laugh from a joke. She was practical and sensible, but what friends and family will remember her for the most is the fact that she was so understanding and kind. Her smile would light up any room. God blessed us with the gift of Doris and everyone whose life she touched will dearly miss her.